Chartered town planner (degree)
- Level
- 7
- Typical duration
- 60 months (about 5 years)
- Max funding band
- £27,000
- Route
- Construction and the built environment
- Regulated by
- Royal Town Planning Institute
Shaping the places we live in by balancing the needs of people and business for homes, jobs, local facilities and open spaces with impacts on the wider environment.
About the role
Chartered Town Planners are professionals who work to achieve sustainable development. This means they shape the towns, cities or villages we live in by balancing the needs of people and business for homes, jobs, local facilities and open spaces with impacts on the wider environment. Chartered Town Planners therefore deal with official regulations, policy documents and masterplans for changing, improving, reusing or conserving buildings and sites and advise their customers and clients on how best to manage the development and use of land. Jobs are available in local and national government, private consultancies, corporate firms, voluntary and non-governmental organisations. Chartered Town Planners can work for one of these organisations or themselves across many sectors including construction, environment, housing, energy, transport, regeneration, coastal, heritage and conservation, and minerals and waste. Typical job titles include Planning Officer, Town Planner, Planner, Development Management Planner and Planning Consultant. Career progression can be to Senior Planner, Principal Planning Officer, or similar and will involve dealing with larger, more complex projects and taking on increasing managerial responsibiliites. They must abide by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Code of Professional Conduct and ethical standards because they hold positions of responsibility and make decisions that impact on the built and natural environment and long term well-being of communities. The occupation is regulated by high standards of professionalism assuring clients and employers of the quality of service they will receive. Chartered Town Planners are able to direct instructions to Barristers, without their client having to use a solicitor as an intermediary.How it compares
At 60 months (about 5 years), it is longer than average for a degree-level apprenticeship (the average across all 172 Level 6+ standards is 39 months).
The funding band — the maximum an employer's levy can contribute to training costs — is £27,000, at or above the £21,500 average for degree-level standards. Apprentices never pay tuition either way.
Typical job titles
- Planning Officer
- Town Planner
- Planner
- Development Management Planner
- Planning Consultant
What you'll learn
The official standard defines 8 knowledge areas, 8 skills, 10 behaviours. This is the actual assessed content of the apprenticeship — worth reading before an interview, because competency questions are usually written straight from these lists.
Knowledge 8
- Spatial planning in different contexts and development scales as well as planning policy at national, regional, local and neighbourhood levels. The plan led system and policy frameworks, local plans and neighbourhood plans. National policy statements for major infrastructure and other published Government guidance and initiatives.
- The purpose of planning and the nature and operation of the statutory land use planning system in the UK and the administrative legal and regulatory framework within which it operates related to the built and natural environment. The approaches taken by the different administrations of the UK. The role of planning law in development management and the mechanisms used including planning applications, permissions, permitted development, conditions, planning agreements, enforcement and appeals. The regulatory requirements of plan making to ensure compliance with the necessary processes. Planning for nationally significant infrastructure projects.
- The political nature of spatial planning and how planners work within democratic decision making structures including levels of democracy. The role of councillors/politicians, consultees, town and community councils, members of the public, developers, voluntary and single interest groups. The various means of how interested parties can be involved in the planning process including submitting representations and the implications of challenging decisions and potential consequences.
- Sustainable development and how to balance the needs of communities, government and business, and a range of social, economic and environmental objectives in line with environmental legislation. The contribution that planning can make to the built and natural environment and the implications of climate change. How spatial planning supports efficient management of resources and use of land.
- Spatial design and master planning. Principles and processes for creating high quality places and enhancing the public realm for the benefit of all in society. The link between placemaking and health and wellbeing. The relationship between development proposals and their physical, cultural and social context, impact on amenity and the wider environment including transport and movement.
- Types of stakeholders including communities, consultees and statutory bodies. Importance of and reasons for engagement, principles of engagement and how to plan for and achieve effective engagement at each stage of the development process. Role of communication in planning and importance of working in an interdisciplinary context. Equality of opportunity.
- The economics of land and property markets and of the development process. The rationale of government intervention through planning. The implications for generating added value for the community. Development appraisal, viability and evaluation of the impact of planning decisions including planning requirements, agreements and/or conditions.
- The characteristics of a professional planner, the importance of upholding the highest standards of ethical behaviour and commitment to maintaining and developing professional competence. The required standards of practice and ethics for Chartered Town Planners and the core ethical principles.
Skills 8
- Undertake research and analysis of information for planning policy formulation and to prepare material for policy, guidelines and advice. Typically this would include spatial development strategies and statutory development plans, development briefs, design guides, sustainability appraisal, materials for inquiry, advocacy or presentations in public or to councillors or clients.
- Implement policies and procedures set out in plans, legislation and related documents. Typically, this would include statutory development management, the preparation and submission of planning applications, implementation of plans or schemes for matters such as conservation, environmental improvement, economic development or regeneration, infrastructure, minerals or waste. Site appraisal, feasibility studies and other forms of study preparatory to the submission of a planning application. Planning enforcement, appeals and inquiries.
- Produce creative and innovative design strategies, policies and solutions. Typically, this would include buildings, public realm, landscaping, villages, towns, cities or other parts of the urban and rural environment.
- Collect data using appropriate systems and software, undertake investigations and research to inform quantitative and qualitative analysis and appraisal. Weigh evidence and evaluate alternative planning solutions. Make clear, integrated responses and evidence based decisions. Demonstrate sound judgement and the ability to balance varying objectives.
- Engage with and manage stakeholders and customers and build positive, relationships. Communicate, negotiate, advocate and mediate effectively and respond appropriately to resolve conflict.
- Define clear aims and objectives and deliver projects to time and to budget. Use appropriate information technology. Lead and manage a process from start to finish and evaluate the outcome identifying actions for improvement and development.
- Work in partnership. Network, create and maintain an environment where information is shared.
- Communicate clearly in writing and verbally. Negotiate and mediate. Work independently and as part of a team and lead others. Manage work and time. Customer and client care.
Behaviours 10
- The five core principles of the RTPI’s Code of Professional Conduct
- Honesty and integrity
- Independent professional judgement
- Due care and diligence
- Equality and respect
- Professional behaviour
- Commitment to lifelong learning and reflective professional practice
- Reliability, integrity and respect for confidentiality on work related and personal matters, including appropriate use of social media and information systems.
- A focus on outcomes and a positive attitude
- Curiosity and a desire to improve the built and natural environment
Live vacancies
2 live vacancies for this course right now:
-
Planner Apprentice
Code Development Planners · NEWMARKET (CB8 7PN) · Competitive
Closes in 17 days (Monday 10 August 2026) · starts 7 September 2026 -
Chartered Town Planner Degree Apprentice
Planning & Design Practice · DERBY (DE1 1UL) · Competitive
Closes today at 11:59pm · starts 1 September 2026
Live adverts from the government's Find an apprenticeship service, checked 2026-07-24. Closing dates move fast — apply on the official service.
Universities registered to deliver it
9 universities are on the government provider register for this standard. Registration means they can deliver it — live vacancies depend on employer partnerships each recruitment cycle.
- Anglia Ruskin University
- London South Bank University
- Sheffield Hallam University
- University College London
- University of Birmingham
- University of Brighton
- University of Plymouth
- University of the West of England, Bristol
- University of Westminster
Featured programmes
Code Development Planners × Anglia Ruskin — Chartered town planner (degree)
Code Development Planners is recruiting for this apprenticeship with training delivered by Anglia Ruskin University — advertised on the government's Find an apprenticeship service (checked 2026-07-24).
Planning & Design Practice × Sheffield Hallam — Chartered town planner (degree)
Planning & Design Practice is recruiting for this apprenticeship with training delivered by Sheffield Hallam University — advertised on the government's Find an apprenticeship service (checked 2026-07-24).
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Official sources
- Official standard page (Skills England)
- Registered training providers (Find apprenticeship training)
Occupational summary, duties, knowledge, skills and behaviours reproduced from the ST0536 apprenticeship standard (last updated 2019-03-22) — contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Always check the official page before applying: standards get revised.